2016 Summer Enews

The ANS re-launched its website, http://numismatics.org/, which now features improved navigation, search capability, and user interface to help numismatists explore, learn, shop, and conduct research with ease. Of particular note is the updated section on the ANS Magazine, which enables visitors to view the e-edition of a recent issue which contains enlargeable images and active links to the ANS collection on MANTIS in addition to live links to other sites mentioned in the articles.

Numismatic Literary Guild Awards

ANS Publications was honored by the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) at the American Numismatic Association’s 2016 World’s Fair of Money (August 9–13), winning three awards, and earning four honorable mentions:

Winner, Best World Paper Money Book: Michael Bonine, The Banknotes of the Imperial Bank of Persia: An Analysis of a Complex System with Catalogue

Extraordinary Merit went to Christopher McDowell (Colonial Newsletter editor) for his book, Abel Buell and the History of the Connecticut and Fugio Coppers; Scott Miller for Medallic Art of the American Numismatic Society, 1865–2014; and to Nathan Elkins for Monuments in Miniature: Architecture on Roman Coinage. Extraordinary Merit also went to David Hill, ANS Francis D. Campbell Librarian, for his ANS Magazine column, “Archives.”

Summer Seminar 2016 Recap

On Friday, July 29, the ANS bid farewell to our most recent group of Summer Seminar students, who recently completed an eight-week intensive on numismatic studies with visiting Professor Dr. Klaus Vondrovec, Curator of Ancient Coins at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. For the 62nd year, the ANS provided a unique opportunity for students to experience a hands-on approach to the methods, theories and history of numismatics with access to our collections. Look for more information on the students and this year’s Summer Seminar in the third issue of the 2016 ANS Magazine.

Oldest ANS Member Passes Away

On August 1, 2016, Léon Lacroix passed away at the age of 106 years. Born on November 23, 1909, Lacroix was Professor of Archaeology and Art History at the University of Liège in Belgium. He was a well-known expert on the iconography of Greek coinage. He is perhaps remembered best for his book on statues on coins, Les Reproductions de Statues sur les Monnaies Grecques: La Statuaire Archaïque et Classique, which appeared in 1949 and is still frequently cited by scholars. Professor Lacroix was an emeritus member of the Académie royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique. Léon Lacroix had been a Corresponding Member of the American Numismatic Society, which he joined over seventy years ago, having been elected as an Associate Member in 1946.

Update on Nomisma.org

Since 2010, Nomisma (nomisma.org) has provided stable digital representations of numismatic concepts according to the principles of Linked Open Data. These concepts include standardized vocabularies agreed upon by an international steering committee of numismatic experts. Based on a new report from the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC.org), a computer library service and research organization dedicated to furthering access to data, Nomisma is one of the most heavily used services in the world, delivering more than five times the data on a daily basis than just two years ago.

2016 Nominating and Governance Committee Report

The ANS Nominating and Governance Committee has filed its report to the Executive Director including naming the persons nominated for election as Trustees, Officers, and Fellows. The report is now available online. The Trustee candidates are nominated for a three-year term ending in 2019 and will be voted upon at the Annual Meeting on October 29, 2016, by the Fellows of the Society.

The ANS Needs You

The ANS Mid-Year Appeal is still on! Please make a 100% tax-deductible gift that will help the ANS continue with our many important projects. Your gift will make a real difference!

Thank you to everyone who has participated in this campaign!

Donated Coin to South Street Seaport Museum

The ANS donated a British 1885 Maundy fourpence to the South Street Seaport Museum which was placed under the mizzen mast of the newly renovated Wavertree ship. As part of the Museum’s revitalization, the restoration work on the ship included the removal of all three of her masts, which provided an opportunity to perform the age-old tradition of placing a coin in the mast step before the mast is lowered and secured. From archaeological evidence we know that this tradition dates back to at least the Roman Republican period, and very likely dates back even further. Given by the British Monarch on Maundy Thursday as alms, these small silver coins serve more of a symbolic than monetary purpose.

On August 16th, ANS curator Peter van Alfen and photographer Alan Roche were among the two dozen guests invited to witness the re-stepping of Wavertree’s last mast. The ANS’s donated maundy fourpence, now encased in lucite, was diligently placed in the mast step by three children before the 10 ton mast was finally lowered into place, where the coin will rest secure until the ship’s next refit, probably sometime around 2066. You will be able to find more information about this event, and the tradition of placing a coin in the mast step in ANS Magazine 2016, vol. 4.

AJN for 2015

Volume 27 of the American Journal of Numismatics is on its way to New York from the printer, and will be shipped to Members/subscribers this month. Volume 28 is on schedule to go to the printer by September, and should ship to readers by the end of 2016.

Renew Your Membership

Although we are now in the latter half of the year, you can still update your membership for 2016. Ensure you receive the American Journal of Numismatics, Volume 28, by renewing at the Full Associates level today.

Upcoming Events

UNESCO Conference

Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites and their protection will be the subject of an upcoming international conference hosted by UNESCO on September 22 and 23 in Paris, France. Dr. Peter van Alfen, ANS Margaret Thompson Curator of Greek Coins, will be speaking at the event on behalf of the ANS. Learn more about the focus and participants of the meeting.

The lecture will be held in the Lecture Hall at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, 1 East 78th Street, New York City. A reception will follow. You must RSVP for this event online or contact the Membership Department at 212-571-4470 ext. 117.

Mark M. Salton Memorial Lecture

Dr. Andrew M. Burnett, former Director at The British Museum and ANS Trustee, will present the 2016 Mark M. Salton Memorial Lecture, “Roman Coins, Money and Elizabethan Society: an Unknown Work by Sir Thomas Smith.” The Salton Memorial lecture will take place at the ANS headquarters in New York City on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 6:00 pm. A reception will begin at 5:30 pm. Reservations are required – RSVP to membership@numismatics.org or 212-571-4470 ext. 117.

Annual Meeting

The Society’s 159th annual meeting will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 3:00 pm. Officers of the Board of Trustees and staff will make remarks and presentations, and the election of Trustees will be held. A new exhibition will be on display.

Recent Events

Archer M. Huntington Award and Silvia Mani Hurter Memorial Lecture

The 2016 Archer M. Huntington Award was presented to Dr. Michael Alram for his outstanding career contributions as a numismatic scholar, researcher, scientist and teacher by the ANS on June 7. The 95th recipient of this award, Dr. Alram gave his Silvia Mani Hurter Memorial Lecture entitled “Money and Power in Ancient Bactria.” View the lecture on the ANS YouTube page.

Advertise in the Award-Winning ANS Magazine

Support the ANS by advertising in the award-winning quarterly ANS Magazine. The ad deadline for issue no. 4 of 2016 is November 1. For more information about advertising rates and specs, visit the advertising page or contact Joanne Isaac, Museum Administrator, at magazine@numismatics.org or 212-571-4470 ext. 112.

Sponsor the ANS E-news

If you or your company would like to sponsor future issues of the ANS E-news, please contact Joanne Isaac, Museum Administrator, at 212-571-4470 ext. 112 or isaac@numismatics.org.

Recent Acquisitions

See what’s new at the library! View the acquisitions for June and July.